Tunulliarfik Fjord
Encyclopedia
Tunulliarfik Fjord is a fjord in the Kujalleq
municipality in southern Greenland
. In times of the Norse settlement
in southern Greenland, it was known as Eiriksfjord.
settlement, the fjord is joined by its tributary Qooroq Fjord from the northeast, changing direction from southern into southwestern. Bounded by long peninsulas and low-lying islands from the southeast and the northwest, it empties into Labrador Sea
at approximately 60°41′N 46°44′W.
are located on the opposite sides of the fjord near its head. Further south, the settlement of Igaliku
occupies the isthmus
of a peninsula bounding the fjord from the south. At the far end of Narsaq Peninsula bounding the upper reaches of the fjord from the north the town of Narsaq
occupies a wide lowland with arable ground. There are no settlements in the lower reaches of the fjord.
coastal ship in the summer season. The southbound ferry route backtracks from Qaqortoq
until the mouth of Tunulliarfik, to then sail northeast alongside the lower part of the fjord, anchoring at Narsaq port before turning around the same day.
Narsaq Heliport
and the international Narsarsuaq Airport operate year-round, with STOL
connections to Nuuk
, Kangerlussuaq
, and Paamiut
, and helicopter connections to Alluitsup Paa
, Nanortalik
, and Qaqortoq. Igaliku and Qassiarsuk can be reached by boat.
Kujalleq
Kujalleq is a new municipality in the southern tip of Greenland, operational from 1 January 2009. With 7,589 inhabitants as of January 2010, it is the least-populated municipality in Greenland. The administrative center of the municipality is in Qaqortoq...
municipality in southern Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
. In times of the Norse settlement
Eastern Settlement
The Eastern Settlement was the largest and first of the three areas of Greenland, settled in approximately 985 AD by Norse farmers from Iceland . At its peak it contained approximately 4,000 inhabitants...
in southern Greenland, it was known as Eiriksfjord.
Geography
The fjord head at approximately 61°14′40"N 45°30′35"W is formed by the estuary of a river flowing from the glacial outflow lake in Johan Dahl Land. At approximately 61°04′00"N 45°26′30"W, south of the NarsarsuaqNarsarsuaq
Narsarsuaq is a settlement in the Kujalleq municipality in southern Greenland. It had 158 inhabitants in 2010. There is a thriving tourism industry in and around Narsarsuaq, whose attractions include a great diversity of wildlife, gemstones, tours to glaciers, and an airfield museum...
settlement, the fjord is joined by its tributary Qooroq Fjord from the northeast, changing direction from southern into southwestern. Bounded by long peninsulas and low-lying islands from the southeast and the northwest, it empties into Labrador Sea
Labrador Sea
The Labrador Sea is an arm of the North Atlantic Ocean between the Labrador Peninsula and Greenland. The sea is flanked by continental shelves to the southwest, northwest, and northeast. It connects to the north with Baffin Bay through the Davis Strait...
at approximately 60°41′N 46°44′W.
Settlement
There are several small settlements near the shores of the long Tunulliarfik Fjord. Narsarsuaq and QassiarsukQassiarsuk
Qassiarsuk is a settlement in the Kujalleq municipality, in southern Greenland. Its population was 89 in 2010.- History :Brattahlíð was the site of the Erik the Red's estate in the times of the Norse Eastern Settlement...
are located on the opposite sides of the fjord near its head. Further south, the settlement of Igaliku
Igaliku
Igaliku is a settlement in the Kujalleq municipality in southern Greenland. Present day Igaliku was founded in 1783 by trader and colonial administrator Anders Olsen and his Greenlandic wife Tuperna...
occupies the isthmus
Isthmus
An isthmus is a narrow strip of land connecting two larger land areas usually with waterforms on either side.Canals are often built through isthmuses where they may be particularly advantageous to create a shortcut for marine transportation...
of a peninsula bounding the fjord from the south. At the far end of Narsaq Peninsula bounding the upper reaches of the fjord from the north the town of Narsaq
Narsaq
Narsaq is a town in the Kujalleq municipality in southern Greenland. The name Narsaq is Greenlandic for "plain", referring to the beautiful plain on the shore of Tunulliarfik Fjord where the town is located.- History :...
occupies a wide lowland with arable ground. There are no settlements in the lower reaches of the fjord.
Transport
Narsaq is a port of call for the Arctic Umiaq LineArctic Umiaq Line
Arctic Umiaq Line A/S or Arctic Umiaq is a passenger and freight line in Greenland. Its name derives from the Greenlandic word for a traditional Inuit boat, the umiaq. The sea connection provided by Arctic Umiaq is a lifeline for the entire western and southwestern Greenland...
coastal ship in the summer season. The southbound ferry route backtracks from Qaqortoq
Qaqortoq
Qaqortoq is a town in the Kujalleq municipality in southern Greenland. With a population of 3,230 as of 2011, it is the most populous town in southern Greenland, and the fourth-largest town in the country. The name is western Greenlandic and means "[the] white [one]".- History :The area around...
until the mouth of Tunulliarfik, to then sail northeast alongside the lower part of the fjord, anchoring at Narsaq port before turning around the same day.
Narsaq Heliport
Narsaq Heliport
Narsaq Heliport is a heliport in the northwestern part of Narsaq, a town in the Kujalleq municipality, in southern Greenland.The route of the Arctic Umiaq Line no longer extends to Narsarsuaq during summer, hence the need for Europe-bound passengers to transfer in Narsaq Heliport, with several...
and the international Narsarsuaq Airport operate year-round, with STOL
STOL
STOL is an acronym for short take-off and landing, a term used to describe aircraft with very short runway requirements.-Definitions:There is no one accepted definition of STOL and many different definitions have been used by different authorities and nations at various times and for a myriad of...
connections to Nuuk
Nuuk
Nuuk, is the capital of Greenland, the northernmost capital in North America and the largest city in Greenland. Located in the Nuup Kangerlua fjord, the city lies on the eastern shore of the Labrador Sea and on the west coast of Sermersooq. Nuuk is the largest cultural and economic center in...
, Kangerlussuaq
Kangerlussuaq
Kangerlussuaq is a settlement in western Greenland in the Qeqqata municipality, located at the head of a fjord of the same name. It is Greenland's main air transport hub, being the site of Greenland's largest commercial airport....
, and Paamiut
Paamiut
Paamiut is a town in the Sermersooq municipality in southwestern Greenland. The name of the town means "they who reside by the mouth" in Greenlandic.- Geography :...
, and helicopter connections to Alluitsup Paa
Alluitsup Paa
Alluitsup Paa is a village in the Kujalleq municipality in southern Greenland. Founded in 1830, Alluitsup Paa had 303 residents in 2010....
, Nanortalik
Nanortalik
Nanortalik is a town in the Kujalleq municipality in southern Greenland. With 1,448 inhabitants in 2010, it is the tenth-largest town in the country. The name Nanortalik means "place of polar bears" or "place where the polar bears go" .- History :...
, and Qaqortoq. Igaliku and Qassiarsuk can be reached by boat.